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Trivia: Musical Terms

Subject : trivia
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. Unmusical - without tone.






2. The tonal characteristics determined by the relationship of the notes to the tone.






3. A composition written for three voices and instruments performed by three people






4. A group singing in unison.






5. The manner in which tones are produced with regard to pitch.






6. Originally an improvised cadence by a soloist. Later it became a written out passage to display performance skills of an instrumentalist or performer.






7. A Boroque dance with a drone-bass.






8. Dull - monotonous tone such as a humming or buzzing sound. Also a bass note held under a melody.






9. A drama where the words are sung instead of spoken.






10. The frequency of a note determining how high or low it sounds.






11. Group of singers in a chorus.






12. Suite of Baroque dances.






13. A symbol in sheet music that returns a note to its original pitch after it has been augmented or diminished.






14. Indicating speed.






15. Unmusical - without tone.






16. A song of praise and glorification. Most often to honor God.






17. A composition written for a solo instrument. The soloist plays the melody while the orchestra plays the accompaniment.






18. Music that is written and performed without regard to any specific key.






19. Three to four movement orchestral piece - generally in sonata form.






20. A separate section of a larger composition.






21. A short piano piece - often improvisational and intimate in character.






22. Music written to be sung or played in unison.






23. A symbol indicating to play loud.






24. A composition written for three to six voices. Beginning with the exposition - each voice enters at different times - creating counterpoint with one another.






25. A style of male singing where by partial use of the vocal chords - the voice is able to reach the pitch of a female.






26. Primary theme or subject that is developed.






27. A chord comprised of three whole tones resulting in an augmented fourth or diminished fifth.






28. Tones used to embellish the principal melodic tone.






29. Two or more voices or instruments playing the same note simultaneously.






30. A direction to play lively and fast.






31. A musical scale having five notes.For example: the five black keys of a keyboard make up a pentatonic scale.






32. Time signature with three beats to the measure.






33. The interval between two notes. Three whole tones and one semitone make up the distance between the two notes.






34. The highest female voice.






35. One who directs a group of performers. The conductor indicates the tempo - phrasing - dynamics - and style by gestures and facial expressions.






36. Made up of five horizontal parallel lines and the spaces between them on which musical notation is written.






37. A set of four musicians who perform a composition written for four parts.






38. Arrangement of music for a combined number of instruments.






39. Pertaining to the loudness or softness of a musical composition. Also the symbols in sheet music indicating volume.






40. Refers to the tuning of an instrument.






41. A string of chords played in succession.






42. Where the musical themes and melodies are developed - written in sonata form.






43. The expression the performer brings when playing his instrument.






44. Curved line connecting notes to be sung or played as a phrase.






45. Repetition of a single tone.






46. A style of singing which is characterized by the easy and flowing tone of the composition.






47. Direction to performer to play a composition in a brisk - lively - and spirited manner.






48. A rhythmic succession of musical tones - a melody for instruments and voices.






49. Ability to determine the pitch of a note as it relates to the notes that precede and follow it.






50. Lowest female singing voice.